On Sunday, October 2nd, I will participate in a panel discussion with the HomeBase Project’s founder, Anat Litwin on the general topic of artistic activism. This past week in NYC, I’ve been involved in a few such discussions and realize that the terms ‘artistic activism’ and ‘art for social change’ can mean so many different things. So, I’ve decided to try and narrow the scope of my input on Sunday to these ideas:
- My role as a virtual resident blogging in from NYC during HomeBase V in Berlin
- What’s the difference between social practice and social justice?
- And pertaining to that, offer a critical read on the state of the artist residency sector.
I recently met someone who is going to create an artist residency within six ‘locals’ of a large national union in the US. She asked me – off the top of my head – what is the most important thing to consider when making / programming a residency. I had to think quick … and here is what came out of my mouth:
I don’t think there is a valid argument for robust artist mobility (w/ residency as the vehicle) unless it is in the context of social change. If it is simply seen as a vocational entitlement, other vocations or people won’t understand or care.
I blogged this to the online community of the International Coalition for Arts, Human Rights and Social Justice and got a little push back … so, I start off that statement and attempt to better explain my beliefs on the topic in longer form and with relation to the new HomeBase Lab in Berlin.
PS, Take a look at an exciting project in Sao Paulo that I’m involved in called Encampment Ersilia with the artists Swoon and Paula Segal … AND, and, & keep an eye on the advance blog of a conference that I’ve helped to plan w/ the Triangle Network called Networked: Dialogue & Exchange in the Global Art Ecology, which takes place in London, November 26-27.
